Canon K35 Primes: These were high-speed, spherical lenses originally engineered specifically for cinema use (Super 35mm format), winning a Technical Academy Award in 1977. They often utilize aspherical elements for performance at wide apertures. Due to their age and original mechanical design, K35 lenses are almost always rehoused by specialty companies (like TLS, Zero Optik) into modern cine-style housings with PL or EF mounts for contemporary use.

Canon FD Lenses: These were Canon’s still photography lenses for their FD-mount SLR cameras. The best models, especially the SSC (Super Spectra Coating) and Aspherical versions, are frequently rehoused to cine-standards (like the K35s) to be used as a more affordable, yet visually complementary, alternative or extension to the core K35 set. They cover Full Frame sensors, which is a major benefit today.

Key Features:

Aesthetic/Look: Highly cinematic, low contrast, warm color rendition, gentle focus fall-off, big, distinct flares (gold/amber/magenta). Similar vintage charm to K35s but often with slightly more contrast and a marginally cooler color tone. Good for a nostalgic, non-clinical look.
Speed: Extremely fast, with maximum apertures typically ranging from T1.3 to T1.5. Excellent for low-light shooting and shallow depth of field.
Bokeh: Known for unique, circular bokeh, especially when stopped down, often featuring a subtle “bulls-eye” style. Pleasing, gentle roll-off from in-focus to out-of-focus areas. Often rehoused with many iris blades for perfectly circular bokeh.
Coverage: Core set covers Super 35mm (S35). Some focal lengths also cover Full Frame (FF) or VistaVision (VV). Most sought-after primes cover Full Frame sensors, making them highly versatile for modern digital cinema cameras.